Water-jet grounder for protection against excessive potentials in electrical systems.



No. 866,075. PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907. I

S. SCHNEIDER. WATER JET GROUNDBR FOR PROTECTION ACAINSTEXCESSIVE POTENTIALS IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 26, 1907.

rm; NORRIS Farcns cm, WASHINGTUN, n. c.

[NV INTER STEPHIN SCHNEIDER.

MZZW;

AT Ty? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPIIAN SCHNEIDER, OI BERLIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

WATER-JET GROUNDER FOR PROTECTION AGAINST EXCESSIVE POTENTIALS IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1'7, 1907.

Application filed January 26,1907. Serial No. 354,280.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Eritrean Scnnnlnnn, a subject of the Emperor ol Austria, residing at Berlin, Germany, have invented certain new and useiul improvements in W ater-J ct Grounders for Protection Against Excessive Potentials in Electrical Systems, oi which the [ollowing is a specification.

01 the various devices lor protection against excessive potentials and lightning in electrical supply systems, water-jet grounders have recently lound particularly wide use on account of their satisiactory operation. These are for the most part arranged in a manner such that a continuous jet of water is directed against a metallic plate connected with the electrical conduc tor, or a column oi water Ilowing through an insulating pipe is utilized as an inductionless resistance between conductor and earth. By means of this continuous grounding, any potential can be carried off as soon as it appears, and it is not required, as is the case with spark-gaps, to reach a certain bridging potential. It is inherent in the nature oi the forms of these water-jet grounder-s known up to the present time, that a constant loss of energy must ensue, apart from the c011- sumption of water. Attempts have been made to control the latter by introducing self-cooling, circulationwater-resistances; the consumption of electric energy it has not yet been possible to avoid.

The object of the invention is a water-jet grounder which avoids the constant consumption of electric energyand has the advantage that the water losses are slight. This is attained by grounding the water-jet only at the moment of the occurrence of an excessive potential by means of this latter itself.

In the testing of high-potential insulators with artificial rain, it has been observed that the statically charged Water drops which flow down from the edge oi the insulating b ell, are attracted by means of the opposite charge of the grounded support and hereby grounding is produced between conductor and support. The injurious effect in this case of the statically charged jets of water is, according to the invention, utilized for the construction oi a water-jet grounder oi" the properties stated at the beginning.

Figure 1. shows a protective device in which one of the electrodes consists of a jet or stream of water movable toward a second electrode by electrostatic attraction; Fig. 2 shows a modified i'orm provided with a horn gap.

In Fig. l a slender jet of water 1 falls to earth by gravity near a sheet metal plate 2 attached to a supply conductor or line wire 3. It now, an excessive potential arises on the line conductor, the potential of the sheet metal plate 2 rises and draws the Water jet over to decrease the distance between the jet and plate.

Ii the initial distance between plate and j et is suitably ad justed, the attraction may be carried to the point of mutual contact, or at least so iar that between plate and jet a discharge takes place and thus connects the plate with earth.

Instead of a falling jet of water there may, oi course, be employed a rising one instead of an individual jet, a number thercol, or a broad band ol water in any desired position with relation to the electrode surlace.

The modification shown in Fig. 2 comprises a bolt 4; l'or connection with the line conductor to be protected, and carrying at one end a sheet metal plate 5 rotatable about the point 6 as pivot and bent in horn shape. All of the above-mentioned parts are suitably insulated from ground by the insulator 7. The water outlet, or nozzle, 8, which is likewise formed hornshape, has a valve 9 with a jet regulator 10 for securing good contraction in the jet of water. An insulating pipe 1]. is attached to the water jet or nozzle and serves as a means for supplying water thereto from the water main l2. Excessive potentials of small magnitude are gen crall y carried through the jet of water 13 to earth, while very heavy discharges may pass the spark-gap between the horns and be conducted off through the water in the insulating tube 11. This water therefore, serves the lunction oi the resistance heretofore used with lightning arresters to restrict the How oi line current following the discharge. The electrical resistance oi the jet of water 13 will usually be considerably higher than that of the water contained in the insulating tube 11; the former thus exerts only a slight influence on the latter.

Since in the new water-jet grounder there is no constant loss of electrical energy, the water will always have only a slightly increased temperature, and will, therefore, possess a great heat capacity. In order to still. lurther restrict the consumption of water, the water may be caught in a tank 14 and be forced back into the pipe 12 by means of a pump.

The force exerted on the water jet may be still inrthcr increased by arranging a ground plate on the side opposite the plate 5, in which case the repulsion by reason of the ground plate is added to the attraction caused by the potential of the system. Also, with the use of an insulating tube between water conduit and exit or outlet, the water jet may be permitted to llow from the supply conductor to earth, whereby all dropping particles of water are attracted by the ground plate and repelled by the plate subjected to the potential oi the system.

It should be noted that the above-described arrangements are not the only ones possible, but that of course, constructive modifications of the individual parts may What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent oi the United States is,

1. The combination with a conductor to be protected, of a water-Jet. and a plate in proximity thereto for changing the position of the water jet to produce a conductive path for the discharge of excess potential arising on said conductor.

.3. The combination with an electrical conductor to be protected from exc s potentials. of a plate connected thereto. means for maintaining a tluid stream within the I electrostatic tield of said plate, but normally out; of contactv therewith, and a ground connection for said stream.

22. The combination with a line conductor to be protected from excess potentials. of a plate connected therewith and establishing an electrostatic tield, means for maintainin; a jet ot' water in proximity to said plate and in position to be attracted by said plate when an abnormal potential occurs on said conductor.

l, The combination with a line conductor to be protected from high potential strains, of a plate connected therewith, and means for maintaining a jet of water in proximity to said plate but normally out 01' contact therewith, said jet of water being grounded.

5. A protective device comprising a spark gap formed between a conductive plate and a stream at conductive tluid, the length of said gap being automatically controlled by the electrostatic charge olf said plate.

(5. In a protective device, the combination of a spark gap formed between a conductive plate and a tluid supplying nozzle delivering a stream of liquid in proximity to said plate but normally out of contact. therewith, and projections from said plate and nozzle forming a horn gap.

7. In a protective device, the combination of a spark gap formed between a conductive plate and a tluid supplying nozzle delivering a stream of liquid in proximity to said plate but normally out of contact: therewith, projections from said plate and nozzle formii a horn gap, and a section of insulating pipe separating said nozzle from the source of liquid supply.

8. A protective device for electrical conductors, COlnprising a spark gap formed between a conductive plate and a tluid discharging nozzle delivering a high resistance stream of water in proximity to said plate but normally out of contact: therewith, and a second stream of water of larger cross-section connecting said nozzle to ground.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set. my hand this 3rd day otf January, 1007.

STElIIAN SCHNEIDER.

Witnesses .Iumus Rnnmxn, KARL l'tteiti-iunx. 

